What you need to know - According to McKinsey, 70% of automation projects fail not for technical reasons but because they disrupt existing processes too abruptly, hence the importance of a progressive approach that involves teams from the start.
Automation is not an IT project
You've spotted repetitive tasks in your company. You know they could be automated. But where do you start without triggering internal resistance?
The most common mistake: viewing automation as a purely technical project. Install a tool, configure workflows, and wait for the magic to happen. This approach almost systematically fails.
Successful automation is first and foremost a human project. It begins by understanding how people actually work, not how they should work.
Identifying good automation candidates
Not all repetitive tasks deserve to be automated. Some seem time-consuming but hide essential human value.
Good candidates: data entry between systems, invoice reminders, sending confirmations, generating standardized reports, syncing information between tools.
False good candidates: tasks that seem repetitive but require contextual judgment, client interactions that appear scriptable but benefit from staying personal.
Start by observing. Spend a day with each team. Note what interrupts them, what frustrates them, what they do "because it has to be done." That's where your best opportunities hide.
The 80/20 rule applied to automation
Don't try to automate everything at once. Target the 20% of tasks that consume 80% of unproductive time.
First level: automate what requires no decision. Data transfers, notifications, archiving. No risk, immediate gains.
Second level: automate simple decisions with clear rules. If the invoice is over 30 days, follow up. If stock goes below threshold, order. Explicit rules, applied without exception.
Third level: assist complex decisions without replacing them. The tool prepares, suggests, but the human validates. This approach reassures and allows for gradual refinement.
Involve teams from the start
Imposed automation will be circumvented. Co-built automation will be adopted.
Present the project not as "we're going to automate your tasks" but as "we're going to free up your time for what really matters." The nuance changes everything.
Identify an ambassador in each team. Someone who understands processes, sees irritants, and can evangelize solutions. This person becomes your internal relay.
Test with a small group before deploying. A pilot with 3-4 people allows adjustment without risk. Field feedback is worth more than all written specifications.
Choosing the right tools to start
No need to invest in a complex platform right away. Today's no-code tools allow you to automate enormously without writing a line of code.
Zapier, Make, n8n - these platforms connect your existing tools and create automations in a few clicks. Perfect for validating the concept before investing more.
For more specific needs, a custom application becomes relevant. But start simple. Sophistication will come with maturity.
Measure to progress
Without metrics, proving value is impossible. Measure before and after:
- Time spent on automated tasks
- Error rate before/after
- Satisfaction of concerned teams
- Number of exceptions requiring manual intervention
These figures justify subsequent investments and identify next priorities.
Automation as a growth lever
An organization that automates intelligently frees up time for innovation, customer relationships, strategy. We support companies in this digital transformation, from identifying opportunities to implementing solutions.
Want to automate but don't know where to start? Let's discuss your context. An outside perspective often identifies quick wins invisible from within.